Buoyed by the play of four ex-Rangers on their roster, the Anaheim Ducks (10-3-1) own the best record in the Pacific Division. They extended their winning streak to six Saturday, when former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba scored with 32 seconds left in overtime, lifting the Ducks to an exciting 4-3 road victory against the second-place Vegas Golden Knights.

The goal was a beauty. Trouba accepted a pass from Leo Carlsson, blew past the Vegas defender, and had a sweet finish to beat goalie Akira Schmid for the OT game-winner.

🚨 TROUBA IN OT 🚨

SIX WINS IN A ROW! #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/8csyoMEKyd

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) November 9, 2025

It capped a rousing night for Trouba, who also assisted on a goal by former Rangers forward Frank Vatrano in the first period, blocked four shots, was credited with three hits, and led all skaters with 26:36 TOI.

“He’s adding some offense to the back end. … He’s doing a lot of things out there for us. He’s been really good for us,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville told The Athletic earlier in the week.

Trouba’s in the midst of a rebirth with the Ducks. The 31-year-old has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his past nine games, after he was held off the score sheet in each of the first five this season. He leads all NHL players with a plus-16 rating.

Never an analytics darling, Trouba’s xGF is 53.91 percent, per Natural Stat Trick, He’s been on ice for a team-high 10 high-danger goals for, and only five against 5v5, and Anaheim’s outscored opponents 18-6 with Trouba out there at even strength.

The Rangers traded Trouba to the Ducks last December, with his play slipping and salary onerous for a team up against the cap. Trouba is in the final season of a seven-year contract that pays him $8 million annually.

Jacob Trouba playing major role with Rangers West in Anaheim

The Rangers also traded Chris Kreider to the Ducks, largely for financial reasons, this past offseason. Kreider’s been terrific for the Ducks, with nine goals in 10 games. He’s a big reason why the Ducks lead the NHL with an average of 4.14 goals scored per game.

Vatrano, a key trade-deadline pick up by the Rangers in 2022 who helped fuel their run to the Eastern Conference Final that spring, scored a career-high 37 goals with the Ducks two seasons ago and had 21 in 2024-25. But the goal Saturday was just his second this season.

Frank Vatrano gets in front of the net for his second goal of the season!#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/Xsrefw5VUD

— Victory+ (@victoryplustv) November 9, 2025

Popular former Rangers center Ryan Strome has yet to play this season due to an upper-body injury. But Quenneville said this week that Strome is “under consideration” to return to Anaheim’s lineup.

Meanwhile, the Rangers lost again, and were shut out again, on home ice Saturday, losing to the Islanders 5-0. They’re 0-6-1 at Madison Square Garden this season, a historically bad start at home. The Rangers scored six goals in seven home games and been shut out five times.

The Rangers do have the best road record (7-1-1) in the NHL, and have won four straight away from MSG. At 7-7-2 with 16 points overall, the Rangers remain right in the mix of the Eastern Conference standings, despite averaging the fewest goals per game (2.19) in the League.

The pair are teammates once again, only now across the country with the Anaheim Ducks. Kreider was traded to the Ducks in June, six months after the Rangers sent Trouba there last season.

It appears that the buddies picked up right where they left off.

Kreider and Trouba represented their new team at Ducks Night, which was held by the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. The evening was highlighted by Kreider throwing out the First Pitch to Trouba.

Ducks 🤝 Halos

Chris Kreider delivered a perfect strike to Jacob Trouba at Ducks Night with the @Angels ⚾️#FlyTogether | #RepTheHalo pic.twitter.com/T8jF25piv9

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) September 6, 2025

“Right in the dirt! Right in the dirt!,” the self-deprecating Kreider joked on his way to the mound.

Unlike many celebrities or athletes who throw out the First Pitch, Kreider didn’t toss one in from the front of the mound, 40 feet or so from home plate. Instead, Kreider went atop the hill at Angels Stadium, kicked some dirt by the pitching rubber, and fired a (near) strike to Trouba.

The former Rangers were mic’d up for Ducks social media, and Trouba can be heard laughing throughout. That was especially so when Kreider went into full windup and fired the pitch.

New fits for Trouba and Kreider ⚾️

It’s Ducks Night with our friends @Angels #FlyTogether | #RepTheHalo pic.twitter.com/AX9eipWCwe

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) September 6, 2025

“Pretty good! Pretty good!,” exclaimed a laughing Trouba when he met Kreider in front of the plate for a handshake.

As they walked off the field, the former Rangers captain gushed, “That was all-time!”

After posing together for a photo with Wild Wing, the Ducks mascot, Kreider can be heard asking about the speed of his pitch.

“What’d we get on the gun?”

Related: Chris Kreider uses Shoulder Check Showcase to say goodbye to Rangers fans

Former Rangers teammates Jacob Trouba, Chris Kreider enjoying summer fun in California

It’s been quite the active athletic week out in SoCal for Kreider and Trouba. Not only did they get in some baseball, Kreider and Trouba took part in the Ducks’ annual golf outing, where, again, Kreider impressed.

Absolute 🚀 from Kreider off the tee 👀 pic.twitter.com/91y2RU74F7

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) September 5, 2025

Oh, and they were on the ice for some hockey, too, of course, getting ready for Ducks training camp, which opens in two weeks. And there’ll be a real Rangers reunion there, too. Remember, it’s not just Kreider and Trouba on the Ducks roster. Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano are there as well.

The Ducks haven’t made the Stanley Cup Playoffs the past seven seasons. But there are high hopes in Cali this year after the Ducks (35-37-10) finished with 80 points last season, a 21-point improvement over 2023-24. Then this offseason, they added veterans like Kreider and Mikael Granlund to support a very talented young core.

When asked Thursday at his introductory press conference if he’s thought about the vacant Rangers captaincy, Sullivan admitted that wasn’t one of the things he discussed yet with general manager Chris Drury. But he did say the recent conversations he’s had with the players have him thinking good things about leadership on the team.

“The one takeaway that I have from those conversations is I think there’s a fair amount of leadership in that room. So, whether you wear a letter or you don’t wear a letter, leadership manifests itself in so many different ways. I think there’s a lot of character in that room, just based on the initial conversations that I’ve had with these guys. Chris and I will work through some of those challenges” Sullivan said.

The Rangers have been without a captain since Jacob Trouba was traded to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 6. New York finished the season without a captain, though Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider continued to serve as alternates.

Trouba was in his third season as Rangers captain, beginning in 2022-23. They went four seasons without a captain after trading Ryan McDonagh to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018. Interestingly, each of the past three Rangers captains, including Ryan Callahan, were traded away by the organization.

Sullivan likely will take his time getting to know the different personalities during training camp before deciding on his leadership group. Former Rangers coach Gerard Gallant waited until his second season behind the bench before Trouba was named captain.

He is already familiar with several players on the team, having served as an assistant under John Tortorella when Chris Kreider and J.T. Miller made their NHL debuts with the Rangers. Additionally, he coached Vincent Trocheck, Adam Fox, Miller, and Kreider with the United States during the 4 Nations Face-Off.

When asked about his experience with those four Rangers during the midseason tournament, Sullivan said he learned that they were “fierce competitors” with an “insatiable appetite to win.”

During Sullivan’s 10-year tenure as coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, he had one of the greatest captains in NHL history: future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby. The veteran coach understands what defines a true leader, having witnessed Crosby lead the Penguins to Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017.

Here are the top candidates to become the 29th captain in franchise history.

Related: Mike Sullivan sends message to Rangers: ‘talent alone doesn’t win, you’ve got to become a team’

3. J.T. Miller

Though Miller played just 32 games with the Rangers after arriving from the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31, it’s hard to ignore his leadership qualities. Miller plays a gritty, physical style that his teammates feed off, and he’s a vocal, take-charge personality.

He was an alternate captain with the Canucks for four seasons and is widely respected around the League and inside the Rangers room.

Miller is 32 and has five years remaining on his contract, so he’s going to be here a while. He’ll likely wear a letter next season, whether it’s a “C” or an “A”.

If you're wondering who's the next #NYR Captain will be? Just watch JT Miller. pic.twitter.com/tVCBoXrcSh

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 21, 2025

2. Adam Fox

The hometown kid is a leader on the ice and a productive player; his 369 points rank fifth all-time among defensemen in Rangers history.

Fox is a bit soft-spoken, which may not be a plus. But he is under contract through the 2028-29 season, and Sullivan praised him Thursday.

“He is still a young guy, and he already has a Norris Trophy in his trophy case. I look forward to the opportunity to work with Adam. I don’t think there is any doubt that Adam is an elite player in this league,” Sullivan said.

1. Vincent Trocheck

Trocheck is a heart-and-soul player on the ice, a respected veteran and an intelligent voice dealing with the media. He’s likely the favorite to become next Rangers captain.

After Trouba was traded, Trocheck stepped up as a leader on and off the ice, and often was the player providing passionate insight into the team.

“I want to be a part of the reason that we do right the ship,” Trocheck said on breakup day. “We don’t have very many opportunities to win a Stanley Cup, and that’s the whole reason why everybody in this locker room plays the game. I’m looking forward to having this summer to figure things out. I have a lot of things in mind that we can work on and get better at. I do take responsibility for a lot of it.”

Also you might remember that after the Game 6 loss in the 2024 Eastern Conference Final to the Florida Panthers, Trocheck was the first player to comfort Igor Shesterkin after the goalie’s incredible run fell short. A small thing, perhaps. But it’s the type of action teammates take notice of.

Vincent Trocheck consoles Igor Shesterkin after the final horn 😢 pic.twitter.com/NJbrZ5lr4u

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) June 2, 2024

Most perplexing was trying to explain how the Rangers crashed from sitting atop the NHL as Presidents’ Trophy winners in 2023-24 to missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, one of the most disappointing campaigns in franchise history.

“You want to talk about the deficiencies on the ice and how they actually stack up to other teams? Sure, that’s all legit and valid. But sometimes you just can’t quantify what a team is playing for, how they’re playing for each other and the camaraderie and chemistry that a team can have. And the Rangers had it for quite some time,” Walker told Forever Blueshirts. “This (2024-25) team had none of it. There was no sparkle. There was no magic, and that was so evident. … It was truly crazy to see a team that had so much of it go to having none of it in such a short amount of time.”

There was a certain joy to the three previous Rangers seasons, which featured a pair of runs to the Eastern Conference Final. The Rangers played with confidence and swagger. No deficit seemed too much to overcome, especially in 2023-24, when the Rangers were kings of the comeback.

It wasn’t perfect. The Florida Panthers exposed the Rangers in the 2024 conference final, outworking them, taking advantage of their sloppy defensive play and numerous turnovers. The New Jersey Devils shocked them in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

But those Rangers teams didn’t look the part of quitters. And they certainly appeared to enjoy playing for one another.

“I’m such a believer in that X Factor, that “it” feeling, whatever you want to call it. It’s almost indescribable and not tangible. Just a feeling that a team has to it where you know that, yeah, that team can go and win the Stanley Cup,” Walker explained. “That missing ingredient for how ferociously you play for one another. It’s the best thing about sports I think because it’s something you can’t quantify.”

This season? Not so much.

There were numerous no-show performances. Far too many blown leads late in games. Just as many early deficits which put them in an immediate hole. And the fact that it took until Game No. 81, when they were already eliminated from playoff contention, before the Rangers won a game after trailing by multiple goals.

That was on the ice, where blame could be partially placed on a failed system, especially the man-on-man defensive “structure” deployed by since-fired coach Peter Laviolette — one that clearly was not embraced by the Rangers nor fit the personnel.

But deeper than that there was a heaviness about this team, a dark cloud.

“It was exhausting,” Walker said.

And she only had to report on it all. Imagine the players who lived it, were at the heart of it?

In retrospect, Walker explained that it was clear things were headed in a bad direction right from the start of training camp. And it all set up by a messy attempt to trade the Rangers captain last summer.

“Jacob Trouba coming back into the locker room and being completely open and honest about how difficult it was for him to have his heart in this and for him to lead coming from the offseason circumstances that he did, I think that’s infectious. That’s something that’s going to catch on,” Walker shared.

She added that it wasn’t her take that the Rangers stopped caring or trying to win. But instead, “I think it just became too big of a snowball for anybody to get in front of and stop.”

Related: Rangers get their man, hire 2-time Stanley Cup winner Mike Sullivan as coach

Mollie Walker says Rangers must make major decisions on Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider

No one seemed more beaten down by the off-ice drama and on-ice collapse than Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Though he finished the season strong, Zibanejad scored just 20 goals — his fewest since 2016-17, his first season in New York — and had 62 points, 10 fewer than the prior season and 29 less than in 2022-23.

Worse, he carried the weight of everything, leading to a Mopey Mika persona. It wasn’t much better for Kreider, who was included in general manager Chris Drury’s November trade memo to the other teams and had a slew of physical ailments as the longest-tenured current Rangers player limped to the finish line with a career-low 30 points.

Walker said more than anyone else on the Rangers, Zibanejad and Kreider “wore this one” last season since they’ve long been the central figures on Broadway.

“I know that what was going on with Mika also affected everyone around Mika,” she explained. “No more than his best friend (Kreider), who had him as the best man at his wedding. These guys are human … it’s soul-sucking to be around.”

Zibanejad’s distaste for how Drury goes about his business and a perceived lack of communication within the organization was aired at break-up day. Shortly thereafter, Rangers owner James Dolan went public with a contract extension for Drury.

“It was very calculated. It was Dolan telling everyone who’s in charge and who will be in charge for the foreseeable future,” Walker said. “This was not a surprise … Drury has very high favor with ownership. So, the message was this is our guy. Get behind it or get out.”

Walker emphasized that the Rangers, led by Drury and new coach Mike Sullivan, must meet with Zibanejad and Kreider and make sure that each is all-in this season. Or if the Rangers hierarchy doesn’t want one or the other, then they need to work with the players on a cleaner exit strategy. Zibanejad has a complete no-move clause; Kreider has a 15-team no-trade clause.

“Learn from your mistakes. Do not let another disgruntled player walk back into that locker room. It can’t happen again.”

You can watch the complete Rink Rap interview with Mollie Walker at our Forever Blueshirts YouTube page

Or you can listen to the audio podcast with Mollie Walker

But what about general manager Chris Drury? Sure, Drury publicly accepted his share of blame Saturday, when he told reporters “It starts with me. I need to do a better job and give the staff and players the opportunity to succeed.”

However, it feels like he might be the most at fault here for the shipwreck of a season the Rangers just had. It’s not easy to be 29 points worse from one season to the next. Or to be the fourth team in NHL history to win the Presidents’ Trophy one season and fail to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs the next.

Drury? He not only oversaw this mess — he caused many of the problems that led to the Rangers demise.

The GM did little to win friends and influence people among the Rangers core. It unsettled the players when he circumvented Barclay Goodrow’s no-trade clause in his contract and waived the respected veteran without giving him much of a heads-up. Goodrow was claimed by the San Jose Sharks, a team on his no-trade list, and was pretty pissed the way things were handled by Drury and the Rangers.

His former teammates were none too happy with the treatment captain Jacob Trouba received in a drawn-out Broadway departure either.

At break-up day Monday, Mika Zibanejad, who has played nine seasons with the Rangers, revealed that the offseason brought uncertainty to the team. What the players saw happen with respected veteran teammates was concerning. So was lack of communication from the top of the food chain.

“I think [there was] frustration. I think it’s just when you don’t know everything, we don’t know what’s going on,” Zibanejad said.

“Us players, we have to take ownership of what we do and how we go about things, but it has to be cohesive with everyone. This organization doesn’t work without the players. The organization for us players doesn’t work without the people that work above us. We have to look at it and we have to talk about it.”

Trouba admitted he couldn’t lead effectively after what happened last summer. Drury bungled his moves and as such it took until Dec. 6 before he traded Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks — and only after threatening the 30-year-old with being placed on waivers.

Longtime New York Post columnist Larry Brooks characterized Drury’s moves as “loud mistakes,” noting that Trouba’s situation upended the season to a large degree.

For a general manager who plays things so close to the vest, the public mishandling of his captain’s situation and a leaked trade memo to the other 31 GMs in November, were certainly massive distractions to the Rangers.

Related: Rangers free agent K’Andre Miller ‘wouldn’t want to play anywhere else right now’

The Rangers memo of doom

Although the Rangers got off to a hot start with a 12-4-1 record heading into Game 3 of their four-game Western Canada/Seattle trip, their play was still a cause of concern. While veterans underperformed, Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick masked the brewing on-ice troubles with stellar goaltending. That proved to be an unsustainable strategy behind an atrocious team defense.

After the Rangers lost consecutive games to the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers to end the trip, Elliotte Friedman broke the news about Drury’s infamous memo, saying the Rangers were open for business and mentioning Trouba and Kreider as trade options.

In the aftermath of their 6-2 loss in Edmonton on Saturday, the Rangers have made it very clear they are interested in making moves and shaking up their roster. 

Among the names indicated are Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba, although other options will be considered.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 25, 2024

To say the memo affected the team is an extreme understatement. To put it bluntly, Drury’s decision backfired badly. Not only were the players wary of his treatment of Trouba and Kreider, but having this made public also worsened the trust they had in the man in charge.

It wasn’t that Drury was wrong to want to remove Goodrow and Trouba, two overpaid older players, off the roster or that trading Kreider wasn’t a sound hockey plan. It was more how Drury bungled everything and had it blow up in his face.

After Drury’s leaked memo, the season spiraled for the Rangers; the losses in Alberta began a 4-15-0 stretch through the end of 2024 that blew up their season. The Rangers rallied some after the New Year, but were eliminated from playoff contention with two games remaining in the regular season.

Trouba was traded not long after the memo. But Kreider remained for the rest of the season, looking like a severely diminished and demoralized player. We did find out at break-up day that in addition to the back injury that hampered him during the season, Kreider also dealt with vertigo and a hand injury that likely will require offseason surgery.

That played a part, but Drury’s memo clearly took its toll on Kreider, who slumped to 30 points, a 45-point drop from 2023-24. The Rangers’ power play also collapsed from third in the NHL to 28th — in large part because of Kreider’s lack of production.

One of the League’s most dominant players on the man advantage, Kreider scored 18 power-play goals in 2023-24, fifth in the NHL. That number plummeted to six this season.

The memo was a slap in the face for the longest-tenured player on the Rangers, one who is third all-time in franchise history with 326 goals, trailing only Blueshirt legends Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle.

It’s hard to fathom that it was almost a year ago in Game 6 of the second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes, when the 33-year-old scored a third-period natural hat trick to send the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final.

It’s quite possible that Kreider played his last game with the Rangers. If indeed this is the end, it was disrespectful, not that Drury wanted to trade him this season, but how he handled the situation.

Related: Potential Rangers coach candidate has contract decision to make first with Canucks

This offseason could determine Chris Drury’s future with Rangers

There is no doubt that this offseason is crucial for the Rangers’ direction and Drury’s job security.

The fallout began when Laviolette was fired after two seasons behind the bench, along with associate coach Phil Housley. Laviolette joins Gerard Gallant and David Quinn as the third coach Drury has fired since taking over as general manager in May 2021.

When speaking to reporters last weekend, Drury maneuvered his way about, addressing the team’s culture, a key issue that stemmed from his decisions.

“We’re going to be looking at everything. Whether it’s the specific question you ask or other things that have come up along the way this year that we’ve already begun to look at and looked at during the year,” Drury stated. “Unfortunately, we do have extra time with not being in the playoffs to look at a lot of things this offseason and, again, try and make sure we’re back in the playoffs next year.”

Culture is part of New York’s list of problems. But remember, Drury constructed this failed roster, too. So, there’s another reason why much blames falls on his shoulders this season.

The Rangers made the Eastern Conference Finals under Gallant in 2022 and under Laviolette last year, so it’s unfair to look back and truly scrutinize Drury for those hires. However, he was reluctant to hire a first-year head coach. In particular, Kris Knoblouch was right in the Rangers backyard as coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack before being hired by the Oilers early last season and leading them to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

“Leading into the season, given the success we had the last few years, we had high expectations. Quite simply, we fell short across the board,” Drury told reporters Saturday. “Nobody here takes it lightly. We know our fans are frustrated and they deserve a better season than this. It starts with me. I need to do a better job and give the staff and players the opportunity to succeed.”

In New York, a season like 2024-25 is unacceptable, especially for an owner like James Dolan. It’s funny how the world works sometimes.

After Dolan abruptly fired John Davidson and Jeff Gorton, the president and general manager, respectively, in 2021, both found new positions and left the Big Apple in the rear view.

Gorton is the executive vice president of hockey operations for the Montreal Canadiens, who secured the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference, edging out, among others, the Rangers. Davidson is the alternate governor for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who finished ahead of the Rangers and missed the playoffs by two points.

If the Rangers aren’t in the playoffs this time next year, it could be Drury waving goodbye to New York in his rearview mirror.

What isn’t going out the door with some of the soon-to-be-departing veterans is leadership. That element left the premises long ago.

The reasons for the Rangers’ shocking regression this season were many. Hence Laviolette being canned just one year after leading the Rangers to the Presidents’ Trophy.

But none was bigger than the leadership void among the players. It became painfully apparent throughout this season of discontent and will have to be addressed as the Rangers undergo significant changes during the summer.

The Rangers weren’t physical enough. They lacked speed and a sense of identity. They struggled or refused to play in straight lines and attack the net. They continually failed to commit to playing robust defense in front of star goaltender Igor Shesterkin. They tuned out their coach.

Related: Top Rangers coach candidates after Peter Laviolette fired following miserable season

Jacob Trouba, Barclay Goodrow departures left unfilled hole in Rangers dressing room

So much of that can be directly traced to a dressing room that lacked strong voices to set the tone and direction, and create a culture of accountability, for a talented team that drifted all season and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four years.

The messy and exhausting Jacob Trouba and Barclay Goodrow affairs last June created lasting effects beyond just the acrimony they initially caused; many players took exception to general manager Chris Drury’s ruthless disposal of the two veterans. It turns out that the moves did more than just create a sense of frustration with the front office that set the club on a bad path from the get-go. It’s clear now that the loss of Trouba, the captain, and Goodrow, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Lightning, left a vacuum of guidance and direction that was never filled.

Trouba wasn’t around anymore to fire his helmet at the bench and fire up his teammates, appealing to their sense of responsibility to each other. The Rangers couldn’t look to Goodrow, a pivotal figure in Tampa Bay’s back-to-back championship runs, to see how to react and perform when the going got tough.

It showed up over and over again. The Rangers were a terrible defensive team, their roster-wide failure to commit to shutting down plays in the neutral zone and preventing breakdowns in their own end were blatantly obvious in nearly every game. It was just as obvious that no one was calling out those failures or confronting the guilty parties.

Grit and desire were absent. The Rangers were utterly lacking in resilience, consistently unable to bounce back from giving up a goal, which often snowballed into multi-goals against sequences. In perhaps the most glaring evidence of absence of veteran stewardship, four players – three of them depth pieces – publicly torched the team over their playing time and usage. Apparently no one was counseled to keep grievances in-house.

When Calvin de Haan – a 33-year-old defenseman on his fifth team in four years who was a throw-in to the Ryan Lindgren trade in March – ripped the Rangers last week over being a healthy scratch for what turned out to be the final 20 games of the season, it was anything but new.

De Haan joined Kaapo Kakko, Jimmy Vesey and Zac Jones as Rangers who aired lengthy grievances to the media over their ice time – or in Kakko’s case, what he perceived as being scapegoated by being a healthy scratch – this season. Teams with strong leadership keep things like this behind closed doors.

Hearing these colorful phrases like “I’m rotting away” (Jones), “I’m kind of dying by being here” (Vesey), “It’s just easy to pick a young guy and boot him out” (Kakko) and finally, “It’s f —-d” (de Haan) shone poorly on Laviolette, Drury and, yes, the in-house leaders.

It seems inconceivable that had the 2024-25 Rangers been led by strong, accomplished star players who cultivated a clear sense of mission and responsibility to each other and the team, such incidents would have occurred.

Related: Return of J.T. Miller highlighted slew of Rangers trades during 2024-25 season

Rangers’ youth at risk from troubled team culture

Add in the parting comments of Trouba and Goodrow, and the acrimonious, unhealthy environment around the Rangers was hard to miss all season. As significant a role that played in helping to torpedo this season, the potential for it to be a much bigger problem looms.

That’s because a key facet of the Rangers expected retooling going into 2025-26 involves integrating and giving bigger roles to promising younger players. Perhaps unfortunately, some of those players started their apprenticeships this season, exposing them to the negative environment for which the 2024-25 Rangers will be remembered.

That’s not at all a healthy situation for kids who represent the Rangers future, as they try to learn how to become pros. Watching high-paid, accomplished veterans fail to bring maximum effort and responsibility to the ice night after night can’t be anything but corrosive for impressionable early 20-somethings and teenagers. The organization has to get this corrected, lest the negativity of last season stay with Brett Berard, Matt Rempe, Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann, Adam Edstrom and others.

It would be unfair to place all of the blame on Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin, but the fact remains that the trio of core forwards were exposed as anything but leaders this season. Each was an alternate captain; all were derelict in stepping up to demand more of themselves and their teammates when the season went sideways.

Kreider isn’t expected to be back and Zibanejad could also depart if Drury can work through his no-move clause. Panarin’s credibility took a big hit following news that he and MSG Sports settled a sexual assault accusation levied against him.

Drury is banking on a big part of the solution to the culture problem being already in-house. The GM didn’t acquire star center J.T. Miller in late January just for his skill set; the front office envisions Miller’s hard-nosed intensity and demanding ways rubbing off on the Rangers. That didn’t happen enough in Miller’s 32 games after the trade, but the expectation is that he will grow into one of the unquestioned leaders of the team in 2025-26.

The hope is also that Miller’s childhood friend and current teammate Vincent Trocheck continues to emerge as one of the tone-setters in what will be his fourth season on Broadway. Trocheck was the Rangers heartbeat in 2023-24, but like so many of his teammates this season, his impact and voice seemed muted. As with Miller, the Blueshirts want more of Trocheck’s fiery personality, not less.

While Trouba’s five-plus seasons with the Rangers were generally disappointing, he was undoubtedly their leader. It’s possible that Drury overlooked that aspect of Trouba’s presence when he shed his contract, and perhaps did the same when it came to Goodrow. The key now is “fixing the room,” so to speak, with new leaders theoretically coming forward while key subtractions are made with an eye on moving out from under the dark cloud that followed the team all season.

Miller’s relentless focus and perfectionism rubbed some of his Vancouver Canucks teammates the wrong way by the end, leading to his trade back to the team with which he started his NHL career. The Rangers, though, require all of that and more as they attempt to transform what has become an unsuccessful approach to being a contending team. Ditto for Trocheck, whose intangibles and style personify what the Rangers must become.

The inability of the Rangers (34-32-7) to close out a weaker opponent left them even with the Columbus Blue Jackets (33-29-9) and Montreal Canadiens (33-30-9) in the battle for the last playoff berth in the East. The Blue Jackets, who overcame a three-goal deficit and defeated the visiting Vancouver Canucks 7-6, hold the second wild card because they’ve played just 71 games; the Canadiens, a 4-1 loser to the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, have played 72 and the Rangers have played 73.

The New York Islanders (32-29-10), who’ve also played 71 games, are one point behind all three.

The Rangers never trailed until Mason McTavish converted Jackson Lacombe’s pass 59 seconds into overtime for the win. Igor Shesterkin, who made 28 saves, had no chance after the Ducks capitalized on a defensive breakdown to hand the Rangers their seventh loss in nine games decided in 3-on-3 overtime.

“We made mistakes,” coach Peter Laviolette said in a very brief postgame media meeting, “and the mistakes ended up in the back of our net.”

🚨 MAC-T 🚨

WE WIN IN OT!!!!#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/SSSE67okKn

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) March 29, 2025

Adam Fox, J.T. Miller, Alexis Lafreniere and Mika Zibanejad scored for the Rangers, who are 0-1-1 on a West Coast trip that ends with a visit to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.

Leo Carlsson had a goal and three assists for the Ducks. Anaheim got a first-period short-handed goal by Alex Killorn, and Carlsson’s 19th of the season early in the third period made it 3-2. Zibanejad’s power-play goal put New York back up by two, but the Rangers failed to capitalize on the last four of their seven power plays, and goals by Cutter Gauthier at 14:12 and Olen Zellweger with 1:45 left in regulation sent the game into overtime.

Former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba, who was traded to the Ducks on Dec. 6, played against his old team for the first time since that deal. Trouba was his usual physical self — he had no shots on goal and just one attempt, but was credited with four hits and two blocked shots in 15:50 of ice time before leaving 5:20 into the third period after crashing into the end boards behind the Rangers’ net.

Related: Matt Rempe injury creates Rangers opportunity for 2 young forwards

Anaheim Ducks 5 – New York Rangers 4 (OT)

Luckily for the Rangers, Shesterkin was ready to go from the opening face-off in his career-high ninth consecutive start.

He got a break when a deflection by Jansen Harkins leaked through his pads but went off the post and stayed out, then survived a high-sticking penalty to Will Borgen — making three saves as his teammates kept losing face-offs.

The Rangers then grabbed the lead thanks to a fortunate bounce.

Artemi Panarin fired wide of the net from the right circle, but the puck came out cleanly to the right of Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal. Fox got inside position on Lacombe below the left circle and was able to chip the puck just under the crossbar at 3:20 to put the Rangers up 1-0.

FOXY BURIES THE REBOUND. pic.twitter.com/oNNKCjO2dT

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 29, 2025

The Ducks owned the next several minutes, getting a number of Grade A chances as the Rangers largely stood around and watched — all except Shesterkin, who made his best save when he robbed a wide-open Killorn from the slot just over five minutes in.

The shots were 10-3 Anaheim as the first period neared the halfway point when the Rangers finally woke up. For the next few minutes, they dominated play, hit a post and forced Dostal to make a couple of excellent saves, including one on Johnny Brodzinski on a shot he never saw.

The Rangers got their first power play at 15:21 when ex-Rangers forward Frank Vatrano was called for tripping K’Andre Miller. The Blueshirts controlled play for the first 75 seconds until Carlsson broke up a play in his own zone and sprung Killorn for a breakaway. Shesterkin stopped his first shot, but Killorn put home the rebound at 16:55 for a 1-1 tie. It was just the fourth short-handed goal the Rangers have allowed this season.

But the deadlock didn’t last long. J.T. Miller went to the net and found himself all alone when a pass intended for Will Cuylle ticked off the young forward’s stick and came right to him. Miller’s backhand swat went over Dostal’s glove for a 2-1 lead.

A BACKHAND BEAUTY. pic.twitter.com/vAgFYFvVxl

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 29, 2025

It became 3-1 just 14 seconds into the second period when J.T. Miller picked up an errant Ryan Strome pass behind the net and found Lafreniere racing into the zone. A perfect pass, a great shot from the right of the slot just under the crossbar on the short side and the Rangers found themselves with a two-goal lead.

New York dominated play for the next 10 minutes as the atmosphere in Honda Center grew quieter and quieter.

PICKED THE SPOT. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/DyiVz3VQwT

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 29, 2025

Anaheim got a power play at 11:48 when Carson Soucy was called for cross-checking, but Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras took a holding penalty 21 seconds later by grabbing J.T. Miller to prevent a breakaway, putting the teams at 4-on-4. However, Urho Vaakanainen tackled Lacombe in front of the net to end the Rangers’ brief power play and give the Ducks another man-advantage opportunity.

It became a 5-on-3 power play when J.T. Miller’s clearing pass went over the glass at 15:12, but the Rangers killed off Anaheim’s two-man advantage and the Ducks generated little at 5-on-4. The silence in the building was funereal as the Rangers skated off with a two-goal lead after 40 minutes.

Carlsson cut the margin to 3-2 at 2:22 of the third period when he stripped K’Andre Miller outside the Rangers’ blue line, cut to the high slot inside the zone and beat Shesterkin with a rocket of a screened shot. But Strome took a needless slashing penalty soon after, and the Rangers regained their two-goal lead at 4:35 when Zibanejad converted a pass from Fox.

FoxyFeed + Mika buries it. pic.twitter.com/JBMZ1r0hAs

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 29, 2025

But the failure to capitalize on four power plays in a span of less than 12 minutes came back and bit the Rangers when Anaheim refused to quit.

Gauthier chopped in a rebound of Carlsson’s shot with less than six minutes to play, and Zellweger tied it by finishing off a 4-on-2 rush after a penalty kill with a perfect shot over Shesterkin’s shoulder and just under the bar.

The Rangers never touched the puck in overtime before McTavish’s game-winner.

“Good teams do not lose a game like that,” Fox said. “That can’t happen, but we got one point. We’ll take that. We’re still in this with nine (games) to go.”

The Rangers (34-32-6) have played just one game in five days since arriving on the West Coast on Sunday, a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. They had a complete day off after that, practiced Thursday and now play back-to-back games against the Ducks and San Jose Sharks this weekend.

They should be well-rested and motivated. Despite their loss Tuesday, the Rangers haven’t lost any ground in the Eastern Conference playoff race, remaining one point behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card. The Canadiens, Islanders and Detroit Red Wings each lost games with the Rangers idle.

Losers of four of their past five games, the Rangers will have a little extra motivation — or get some extra juice — from playing against their former captain Jacob Trouba for the first time since he was traded to the Ducks in early December.

Whatever it takes to get the Rangers off to a fast start for a change would be a welcome change. After brutal starts against the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks last week, the Rangers mustered two shots on goal against the stifling Kings defense Tuesday.

To their credit, the Rangers ended up playing a pretty solid game, especially 5v5, against the Kings. They id allow two power-play goals and were 0-for-3 on their own power play, the difference in the game.

The Rangers are 10-2-1 in their past 13 games against the Ducks and won seven of eight, including a 2-1 victory at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27.

The Ducks (31-32-8) are coming off a 6-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday and are 3-2-1 in their past six games.

WATCH: latest RINK RAP podcast — Torts or Lavi better choice to coach Rangers?

3 things to watch for when Rangers visit Ducks

1. Trouba reunion

Trouba will face the Rangers for the first time since packing his bags the first week in December, when he was traded to the Ducks. He was not a favorite of Rangers fans at the end, and general manager Chris Drury was desperate to unload is $8 million AAV through next season. But Trouba was well-respected in the Rangers dressing room and a favorite among the players, despite the messy divorce.

So, there’ll be some emotion out on the ice Friday. Because of his robust physical style, Trouba may quickly become an on-ice enemy. You know he’s going to be fired up for this one.

The Rangers are 21-22-5 and alive in the East playoff race since trading Trouba. The Ducks are 21-20-5 and have improved since the deal, but will miss the playoffs for the seventh straight season.

Don’t forget, the Ducks also have a pair of popular former Rangers forwards on their roster — Frank Vatrano (team-high 20 goals) and Ryan Strome (39 points).

2. Style points not important, standings points are

It doesn’t matter right now how they do it, the Rangers simply must find a way to leave Honda Center with two points. Sure, the Ducks are an improved team, but the Rangers need to be desperate, impose their will land prove they are worthy of a playoff spot.

A fast start would be nice. Cleaner play defensively and more sustained pressure offensively would be welcome too. Scoring from Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere? You bet.

But the how is a bit less important right now than the final result. A playoff berth is there for the taking. Take it.

3. Be special

The Rangers lost the special teams battle badly Tuesday and thus lost a close game to the Kings. Each of the special teams is in a funk now, including a brutal 1-for-26 stretch on the power play and seven power-play goals allowed in the past eight games on the penalty kill.

But the Ducks special teams units are among the worst in the NHL. They’re 31st out of 32 teams on the power play (12.4 percent) and 29th in the NHL on the PK (72.7 percent). The Ducks have allowed at least one power-play goal in each of their past seven games.

That sounds like an open invitation for the Rangers to finally get their special teams to be difference makers again, as they were each of the past three seasons.

New York Rangers projected lineup

Panarin – Trocheck – Othmann

Lafreniere – J.T. Miller- Brodzinski

Kreider – Zibanejad – Cuylle

Berard – Carrick – Aube-Kubel

Soucy – Fox

K. Miller – Borgen

Vaakanainen – Schneider

Shesterkin

Quick

Rangers vs.Ducks: When, where, what time, how to watch

Who: New York Rangers vs. Anaheim Ducks

When: Friday March 28 at 10 p.m. ET

Where: Honda Center

How to watch: MSG2

Of course, there are more important things for the Rangers to be concerned about than a reunion with Trouba. There are two important points on the line for a Rangers team that somehow remains just one point behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.

The Rangers (34-32-6) have lost four of their past five games, but they barely lost any ground because no one in this East “race” actually can win a game, much less distance themselves from the other playoff pretenders — err, contenders it is, right?

So, yeah those two points are massive Friday night.

But facing Trouba is a big deal, too. Rangers general manager Chris Drury may have botched how he handled moving on from the important team leader and top four defenseman, but he did well to offload all of Trouba’s $8 million AAV through next season and get a serviceable player like Urho Vaakanainen in return. It was something that simply needed to be done.

No, it didn’t sit well within the locker room. Say what you will about Trouba — he wasn’t worth his salary, his game had declined, both true statements — but he was incredibly respected by his teammates, both as a player and a leader on the Rangers.

Dave Maloney confirmed this notion when he guested on the RINK RAP podcast a couple months ago.

“There is no question, absolutely no question that he was the spiritual leader of that group. None,” the former Rangers captain and longtime MSG broadcaster said.

So, what will we see Friday? Will Trouba deliver a signature crushing open-ice hit on, say, Artemi Panarin or Adam Fox? Or Maybe have a big-time physical battle throughout the game with, say, Alexis Lafreniere or Will Cuylle?

Trouba’s going to play his game, but perhaps he won’t line anybody up for that one massive hit. That’d be different if Drury himself was out there wearing th e white Rangers road sweater. But that’s not the case, though Trouba would certainly welcome that.

It’ll be strange for the Rangers and Trouba, so much history and still a bond there. But once the puck drops, it’s got to be all about the two points for the Blueshirts.

LISTEN to the new RINK RAP podcast or watch the whole show on YouTube on the Forever Blueshirts page

New York Rangers news

The Rangers will be without Matt Rempe for a bit. The towering forward is week to week with an upper-body injury.

Our Forever Blueshirts staff weighed in on whether John Tortorella should replace Peter Laviolette as Rangers coach.

Our Eric Charles broke down why it’s quite possible that the Rangers power play will break out this weekend against the Ducks and Sharks.

In our NCAA prospects report, Rangers top pick EJ Emery will have a new coach at North Dakota next season after Brad Berry was fired last week.

If you haven’t seen it already, check out our breakdown of the top NHL free agent defensemen the Rangers could consider this summer.

NHL news and rumors

Here’s our story about the Philadelphia Flyers firing John Tortorella as coach.

Flyers general manager Daniel Briere explained it wasn’t any one thing that led to Tortorella’s firing.

With interim coach Brad Shaw behind the bench, the Flyers did the Rangers a solid and defeated the Canadiens 6-4.

Now that there’s a coaching vacancy in Philly, many are wondering if Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet — a former Flyers forward — would have interest in that job, especially considering the headaches he’s dealt with this season in Vancouver.

With a goal against the Buffalo Sabres, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins set a new NHL record with his 20th consecutive season averaging at least a point per game. Wayne Gretzky previously had achieved that 19 times.

Even Crosby’s greatness couldn’t stop the freefalling Penguins from getting smoked 7-3 by the Sabres.

The Calgary Flames believe they were “robbed” after a pair of goals were overturned on review in a 5-2 loss to the Dallas Stars.

Flames forward Connor Zary left that game in the third period after an awkward fall into the boards following a collision with Stars forward Mikko Rantanen.

Hoe about Alex Ovechkin leading the Washington Capitals back on to the ice to form a handshake line with Minnesota Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, in what’s likely the final game between the NHL greats with Fleury retiring at the end of the season.

The St. Louis Blues extended their winning streak to eight games with a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators.

The Ottawa Senators strengthened their hold on the first wild card in the East with a 4-3 win against the fading Detroit Red Wings.

The Rangers need to take note, they play the San Jose Sharks on Saturday and the Sharks are coming off a wild 6-5 shootout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.

Calvin Pickard was pulled by the Edmonton Oilers after allowing five goals in what ended up to be a 6-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken.

They headed for California on Sunday on the outside looking in at a playoff berth – but happy to have two days off after a brutal stretch of nine games in 15 days, when they posted a 3-5-1 record, including losses to the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs at the Garden before defeating the Canucks despite being outshot 39-12.

The Rangers (34-31-6) start the week one point behind the Montreal Canadiens (33-27-9) for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference – realistically their only shot of making the playoffs now that they trail the Ottawa Senators (37-27-5), holder of the first wild card, by five points. The New York Islanders (32-28-9) are one point behind the Rangers; the Columbus Blue Jackets (31-29-9) trail them by three.

🌟🌟🌟 J.T.
🌟🌟 Shesty
🌟 Jonny pic.twitter.com/Jj5K7cKzzo

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 22, 2025

But those numbers aren’t as good as they seem, because everyone else in the playoff scramble has two games in hand on the Rangers entering the new week.

The Islanders, who are 3-0-2 in their past five games, could pass their biggest rival on Monday by defeating the Blue Jackets at UBS Arena. The Canadiens visit the surging St. Louis Blues on Tuesday in a game that should be concluding just about the time the Rangers and Los Angeles Kings face off at Crypto.com Arena.

The schedule-maker gave the Rangers a mixed bag on this trip. The good news is that they have two days off after facing the Kings and that their next game is against the nearby Anaheim Ducks. The bad news is that they have a Friday-Saturday back-to-back that involves a late-night flight from Southern California to San Jose, where the League’s worst team will be waiting for them.

A sweep of the California trip might be asking a lot. But the Rangers absolutely need at least two wins in the three games before they head back East for a tough April schedule that begins with a visit from the playoff-bound Minnesota Wild next Wednesday.

Related: Rangers comeback against Canucks fueled by ‘little bit of yelling in locker room’

Who’s hot

Jonny Brodzinski was the First Star in the win against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday after scoring two third-period goals, including the game-winner with 4:13 remaining. Brodzinski’s nine goals in just 40 games are already an NHL career high, and his play is earning him ice time higher up in the lineup.

Igor Shesterkin is keeping the Rangers in the playoff race. He’s started seven straight games and his 36 saves against Vancouver keot New York afloat until Brodzinski’s heroics fueled a four-goal third period. According to Clear Sky Analytics, Shesterkin’s goalie save contribution of 17.40 is third in the NHL.

Who’s not

Mika Zibanejad’s offensive game had perked up after the Rangers acquired J.T. Miller from the Canucks. But he went ice cold on the four-game homestand, failing to record a single point. Coach Peter Laviolette cut his ice time against Vancouver to 16:56, nearly two minutes below his season average.

Related: Why Rangers’ need to play Brennan Othmann in top-6 is not just about the future

Rangers lookahead this week includes …

A very late swing through California. In fact, this week’s trip to the Golden State matches 2017 as the latest in team history.

Rangers at Los Angeles Kings (March 25, 10:30 p.m. ET; MSG)

The Rangers will be looking to avenge a 5-1 loss to the Kings at MSG on Dec. 14, but it won’t be easy.

Not only are the Kings one of the stingiest defensive teams in the NHL, they are best in the League in their own building. A 7-2 victory against the Boston Bruins upped their record to 25-3-4 at Crypto.com Arena; they have fewer regulation losses and total losses at home than any other team in the League. That success at home is a major reason LA is in in a three-way battle for first place in the Pacific Division with the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers.

Los Angeles is 5-1-0 against the Rangers in their past six visits, including a 2-1 win on Jan. 20, 2024, in Jonathan Quick’s return to the city where he helped the Kings win the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014 (they haven’t won a playoff series since that second Cup). Two of Quick’s former teammates who figure to join him in the Hockey Hall of Fame one day, center Anze Kopitar and defenseman Drew Doughty, are still major contributors for the Kings; each scored Sunday in the win against the Bruins.

Los Angeles is 6-0-0 in its past six home games and 11-0-3 on home ice since a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 20.

Rangers at Anaheim Ducks (March 28, 10 p.m.; MSG2)

It’s reunion time for the Rangers and Jacob Trouba, their former captain, who was traded to the Ducks on Dec. 6. Trouba has largely been the same player in Anaheim that he was in the Big Apple for the past couple of seasons – a physical defenseman who will hit and block shots but won’t contribute a lot of offense while eating 20-22 minutes per game.

He had six assists in 22 games with the Rangers before the trade and has contributed just one goal and eight points in 45 games with Anaheim – putting him on target for the worst offensive season of his career.

The Rangers and Ducks have split their past 10 meetings at Honda Center, but the Rangers are 7-1-0 in their past eight games overall against the Ducks, who are on their way to a seventh straight non-playoff season.

Anaheim is still waiting for its young talent to blossom. There’s been progress this season, with the Ducks bobbing up and down around NHL .500, a level they haven’t reached since 2017-18. Lukas Dostal has pretty much taken the No. 1 goaltending job from veteran John Gibson, but former Ranger Frank Vatrano is the only Ducks skater to score 20 goals, and Troy Terry is the only player to reach the 50-point mark.

If Shesterkin plays against the Kings, don’t be surprised if Quick is in goal against the Ducks. He’s 30-13-9 all-time against Anaheim with a 2.34 goals-against average and .913 save percentage.

Rangers at San Jose Sharks (March 29, 10:30 p.m. MSG)

The Rangers have owned the Sharks since San Jose entered the NHL in 1991-92. New York is 34-10-3 with three ties all-time against the Sharks, including a 3-2 win at the Garden on Nov. 14. The Rangers are 10-0-2 in their past 12 games against the League’s cellar-dweller, though San Jose did win 3-2 in overtime on Jan. 23, 2024, the Rangers’ last visit to SAP Center.

One member of the Sharks who’ll certainly be pumped for this one is goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, who was traded by the Rangers to the Colorado Avalanche in the summer of 2022 and was dealt to the Sharks by the Avalanche in December after a dreadful start. Georgiev is 1-0-3 against his old team with a 1.64 goals-against average and .946 save percentage – light years better than his career GAA (2.95) and save percentage (.904).

Shesterkin, whose play was responsible for Georgiev’s departure, is 5-0-2 against the Sharks with a 1.62 GAA and .945 save percentage. Quick, who could get the start if he doesn’t play at Anaheim, hasn’t had nearly as much success – he’s 20-15-8 with a 2.72 GAA and .902 save percentage.

Artemi Panarin has 11 goals and 21 points in his 18 career games against San Jose.